Activists pressing to end Saudi Arabia's ban on women driving have dropped plans for a "drive-in" Saturday after threats of legal action and have opted instead for an open-ended campaign. "Out of caution and respect for the interior ministry's warnings we are asking women not to drive tomorrow and to change the initiative from an October 26 campaign to an open driving campaign," activist Najla al-Hariri told AFP Friday.
Several women said they had received telephone calls from the ministry, which openly warned on Thursday of measures against activists who chose to participate and asked them to promise not to drive on Saturday. Ministry spokesman General Mansur al-Turki told AFP: "It is known that women in Saudi are banned from driving and laws will be applied against violators and those who demonstrate in support" of this cause.
On Wednesday, the ministry said it would crack down against anyone who attempts to "disturb public peace" by congregating or marching "under the pretext of an alleged day of female driving." In remarks to the Al-Hayat daily published Friday, Turki even warned against supporting the campaign online. When asked what would happen to those who did, Turki said legal measures will be taken "against whoever violates the anti-cyber crimes law," an offence punishable by up to five years in prison in the kingdom. Among clerics, many of whom are strongly against women driving in the ultra-conservative kingdom, one echoed those warnings on Friday.
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